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Gypsum Concrete (12” tubing spacing)

This test shows what is currently the most popular style of radiant heating in the US - Concrete. It is an old technology that has seen very little change over the last hundred years. Like other tests, Warmboard reaches a surface temperature of 70º F and outputs 10 BTUs per sq ft in just about 20 minutes. The Gypsum Concrete took 2.5 hours to reach 70º F – a long time to wait if you’re cold in the morning - and output only 1 BTU per sq ft in the first 20 minutes.

The striping (the temperature variation across the surface of a panel) only varies by 2.4º F on Warmboard while the Gypsum Concrete is at 5.9º. Warmboard generated 20 BTUs/HR/SF (British Thermal Units per hour per square foot), while the Gypsum Concrete produced 12. This means Warmboard is using the energy you pay for more effectively.

Tubing on the Warmboard panel and in the Gypsum Concrete is 12" apart.

For those installing hardwood over radiant, these results would be more dramatic. A home with gypsum concrete will also require sleepers (not used in our videos). Sleepers are wooden 2x4s located every 12 inches within the concrete pour which allow the hardwood to be nailed down properly. These 2x4s break up the cement space and interrupt the transfer of heat across the surface. The result is much higher striping and much more noticeable temperature differences in the home. Hardwood can be nailed directly to Warmboard, avoiding all these hassles while simplifying the install process.

Both panels were in an environment with a 65º F air temperature. They both also had the same water temperature, 120º F. The insulation over each panel had a R-Value of 2.22.

Note: Temperatures were taken from just above the center of each panel. Striping differences were also gathered from this area. Temperatures from on top of the tube were compared to temperatures at the midpoint between the tubing pattern.

Warmboard heats the 3500 square foot home with a 75 gal LP gas water heater set at only 95 degrees.

I love Warmboard. The tubing went down really well. The layouts that Warmboard provided were great. What is most impressive is that the water temperatures I run my system at are extremely low and response time is extremely fast, even with all hardwood and tile floors. Warmboard’s efficiency proved true. The original design takeoff from the engineer was designed in accordance with a slab system, calling for set-back controls and a high efficiency boiler, however none of those setback controls were needed. Warmboard heats the 3500 square foot home with a 75 gal LP gas water heater set at only 95 degrees. The homeowner is extremely pleased. I would absolutely use Warmboard again, in fact I will use it every chance I get. No problems, just awesome. - Don Moore, Integrity Plumbing, Florence, OR

Welcome to Warmboard, Simply Smarter Radiant Heat

Warmboard was invented in 1992 by Architect and entrepreneur Terry Alsberg. It has since become one of the fastest growing and most popular radiant heating systems. Two things drive growth and popularity of Warmboard:

More comfortable radiant floor heating

Warmboard adjusts its radiant heat output to quickly match changing heat loads throughout the day and night. This gives you the exact feeling of warmth you desire from a radiant floor heat system. The goal of any radiant floor heating system is to ensure that the temperature that you feel in your home is exactly the temperature you desire, and to maintain this ideal comfort minute by minute, hour by hour. No other radiant heat system can match the precise control and fast response of a low mass Warmboard radiant heat system.

More energy efficient radiant floor heating

Warmboard is simply more conductive compared to all the other radiant heat systems. The job of a radiant heat system is to conduct heat from water in a tube to the surface of a radiant floor. This is why in radiant floor heating, conductivity is king. It is a simple law of physics that as conductivity goes up, water temperature goes down. It always saves money to heat water to a lower temperature, and therefore Warmboard is more energy efficient than all other radiant heat systems.